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VAIL — Vail America Days organizers are ready to welcome guests and area residents this week for the Fourth of July holiday, which includes Vail’s popular parade and fireworks display on Friday, plus a full weekend of activities.

Those who gather in Vail and throughout the county are being asked to be mindful that fire restrictions could be enacted at any time for Vail, Eagle County and other surrounding public lands. In addition, all personal fireworks are banned in Vail. For a safe and enjoyable experience, use the following tips:

Public parking and

event access

Arrive early on Friday to enjoy free parking in the Vail Village and Lionshead parking garages. The 2,500 parking spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis and typically reach capacity prior to the 10 a.m. start of the parade. Once the two structures fill, additional free parking will be available on the north side of the South Frontage Road (next to the interstate) until 11 p.m. Close-in parking at Ford Park will be available for $10 on a first-come, first-served basis from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vail and ECO Transit will offer increased bus service throughout the holiday week. Vail express buses will provide free six- to eight-minute Frontage Road service between Ford Park, Vail Village and Lionshead from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. through Sunday. Call 970-477-3456 for Vail bus information or 970-328-3520 for ECO schedule details. Visit www.vaileventparking.com for expanded and extended transit routes and parking information.

Vail America Days parade

The region’s largest parade begins at 10 a.m. July 4 and winds its way from Golden Peak on Vail Valley Drive, then west to Hanson Ranch Road, north on Bridge Street, west on Gore Creek Drive, north across the International Bridge, west along Meadow Drive and finally through the Lionshead Mall to finish at approximately noon. The theme for the parade is “Vail Welcomes the World,” in recognition of the international appeal of Vail, which draws guests from all over the globe. For a good view of the parade, arrive by 9:30 a.m. and pick a location along the parade route. Consider leaving your dog at home where it will be safe from the crowds and loud noises, which can startle pets. To help reduce congestion, spectators are encouraged to ride their bikes or take the bus to the parade. New this year, Vail Valley Drive will be closed to all vehicle traffic from east of the soccer field to South Frontage Road from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. Beginning at 7 a.m., traffic on Vail Valley Drive will be designated one way westbound from east of the soccer field to South Frontage Road. Traffic will be rerouted at the intersection of Vail Valley Drive and South Frontage Road just east of the Vail Village parking structure. Parade vehicles and local traffic will access Golden Peak from the east along Vail Valley Drive near the Vail Golf Club. Staging of floats and participants will be on the south side of Vail Valley Drive.

Bus service

Increased bus service in Vail will be provided throughout the day and into the evening on July 4, with six-to-eight-minute frequency on the in-town shuttle serving Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak, with 40-minute to one-hour service on most outlying routes during peak times and one-to-two hour outlying service during non-peak times. No in-town shuttles will run during the parade, 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Service should resume at approximately 1 p.m. or as soon as the crowd has dispersed enough to travel the route safely. Buses will operate in a continuous loop from the top deck of the Vail Village Parking Structure to the Vail Athletic Field beginning at 8 a.m. until the parade traffic has cleared. ECO regional transit will provide service as follows: For the Vail America Days parade, catch the ECO bus at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards at 9:08 a.m., Avon Station at 9:22 a.m., or the Forest Service parking lot at Dowd Junction at 9:39 a.m. Fares are $4 for adults; $1 for children and seniors with proof of age. Call 970-477-3456 for Vail bus schedule information. For more information on ECO routes, go online at www.eaglecounty.us or call 970-328-3520.

Fireworks display

Vail’s Fourth of July fireworks display on Friday will be staged from Golden Peak with the show beginning at dusk, conditions permitting.

Personal fireworks

The use of all personal fireworks, including sparklers, smoke bombs or any effect that requires ignition with a flame is prohibited in Vail. If you live in or are visiting other areas of Eagle County, check with your local fire department for regulations.

Celebrate safely

As a safety precaution, a townwide curfew for those 17 and younger will take place between 10:30 p.m. on July 4 to 5 a.m. the next day. Previous checkpoints in Vail Village have been rescinded as these public safety measures are no longer needed, at least for now, due to Vail’s previous success in establishing a family-friendly atmosphere.

Alcohol

Public consumption of alcoholic beverages on the streets of Vail is prohibited year-round, except in special event permitted areas, such as Solaris Plaza. No open containers are allowed in Vail. If you plan to drink, then don’t drink and drive, make arrangements to ride the bus or arrange for a designated driver.

Dogs

Vail has a leash law for dogs in the Vail Village and Lionshead areas.

Lost and found

If you’ve lost an item on the bus, in the parking structure or on the streets, stop by the Vail Police Department in the Vail Municipal Building at 75 S. Frontage Road to ask if the item has been recovered or call 970-479-2208. If you’ve lost an item on Vail Mountain, call 970-754-3059.

Holiday trash schedule

Residents with curbside trash service are reminded to check with their trash removal company to determine if collection schedules will be affected by the Fourth of July holiday. Vail wildlife protection regulations prohibit placing trash outside for pick up other than from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the scheduled trash collection day. In addition, all outdoor trash containers must be either bear-resistant or bear-proof and latched to deter access by bears and other wildlife. Also, Vail’s recycling law is in effect as of July 1. Ask your hauler how to get started.